Horse collar



' Dec 18, 1928. 1,696,063

0. H. THORP, SR

HORSE comm Filed Aug. 24, 1927 7min INVENTOR W I ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

OBISON H. THORP, 83., 0F TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

HORSE COLLAR.

Application filed August 24,1927. Serial N0. 215,196.

This invention relates to harness and its general object is to provide a collar for draft animals, that it formed from flexible material in the usual collar configuration and includes a hollow casing with a remov able elastic filling which retains the casing in proper shape and distributes the load that is brought to bear against the same, with the result the collar will shape itself to the contour of the animals neck and provide a perfect fit, therefore injury caused by rubbing and the like will be eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collar of the character above set forth, that is protected from premature wear caused by friction created by rubbing of the traces and adjacent parts of the harness therewith, and by this 'eature, the collar proper will he possessed with a prolonged life.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elastic collar for draft animals, that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of theseveral parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the collar constructed in accordance with one form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken through this form with the fastening means removed.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the filler of the form as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through a modified form of the in vention.

Referring to the drawings indetail, the reference numeral 1 indicates the casing of the collar which is hollow and formed .from rubber reinforced with fabric or cord in the same manner as a pneumatic vehicle tire casing and is shaped in the usual draft animal harness collar formation. The casing 1 is open from end to end and has one edge portion thereof sewed in loop formation to provide a channel hem 2 within which is disposed a bow 3 formed from re silient material of suflicient rigidity to retain the casing in its collar formation as shown. The hem 2 is formed to provide a flap 4 which receives in overlapping 'engagement therewith the opposite edge 5 0f the casing. The said opposite edge is retained in its overlapped engagement with the flap 4 by the hames 6 of the harness, as shown in Figures l and 5 of the drawings.

The how 3 forms the outer wale or roll 7 for the collar to provide with the said opposite edge of the casing a seat for the hames as will-be readily apparent.

The casing has formed upon opposite sides thereof and in a manner to be disposed in the path of the traces of the harness, reinforcing pads 8 which are engaged by the traces and adjacent parts of the ban ness, with the result, the casing and collar proper are amply protected from premature wear.

The filler for the casing as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing is an elastic tube 9 shaped to conform to the easing and is inflated from a suitable source of air supply through the instrumentality of a valve 10 secured to the tube midway its ends. The valve extends from the outer side of the enlarged portion of the tube and is passed through an opening provided for that purpose in the casing 1 as shown. The valve is of the usual construction and in cludes the usual check parts to prevent'the escape of air from the tube when the latter is inflated as shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings.

In Figure 5 I have illustrated a modified form of filling means and in this form of the invention, the filler which is indicated by the reference numeral 11 is constructed from sponge rubber, but of course is formed to follow the shape of the casing as it is to be positioned in the casing in the same man-- ner as the tube 9 and retained therein accordingly.

The casing has vulcanized or otherwise secured thereto the usual fastening means as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and I wish'to lay particular stress upon the fact that the bridging plate 12 is formed from zinc and has one end fixed to one end of the casing, while of course its opposite end is free as shown and is to he engaged with the opposite end of the collar when. the latter is disposedrinoperative (position about an animals neck.

From the above description and disclosure of the drawings, it will be obvious that I have provided a collar for draft animals that will perform its function for an indefinite period of time and due to the flexibility of the-collar, it will shape itself to the contourof the aniiuals neck and thereby provide a perfect fit so as to prevent discomfort'or injuryto the neck.

It is thought from the foregoing descriptionthat the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make hanges in the construct-ion and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of tlieappemiled claim.

\Vhat- I claim is: A-draft animal collar of the character described comprising a hollow casing open its entil'eilength, a hem formed by looping and sewing one ofthe edges of the casing upon ORISON H. THORP, Se 

